Just over two hours’ drive from Athens, this marble-columned hilltop hotel is the ideal base for lazy, poolside days and sunset tipples overlooking the Aegean Sea. Like any Aman property, Amanzoe has a wealth of restaurant offerings, a state-of-the-art spa and exceptional service – oh, and the Beach Club is within easy reach.
08 October, 2020
Imagine Amanzoe as a more futuristic take on the Acropolis. Spread over 240 wild acres fringed by olive groves, its minimalist design lets views across the Aegean and Peloponnese take centre stage - although its imposing columns certainly make a statement on the landscape. Despite its grandeur, the hotel is anything but stuffy. The team are as personable and on-point as you'd expect of an Aman, and the crowd is young - expect to be rubbing shoulders with affluent honeymooners and solo businesswomen. While Amanzoe can't be faulted for its beauty, this isn't a place for the high-octane traveller; be prepared to spend days lazing in a pavilion by the pool or at the Beach Club rather than cramming in activities.
There are just 38 pavilions and seven villas spread across Amanzoe's plot of land - Aman's biggest - making it feel at once private and intimate. The price tag here is substantial, so even the smallest of the pavilions enjoys plenty of space and its own plunge pool. The largest, Villa 20, looks like something you'd expect to see in the backdrop of a music video. It sleeps up to 18 people, has a private spa and gym, six outdoor pools, a dedicated beach cabana and three dining spaces including a Greek taverna. Amanzoe was designed by architect Edward Tuttle, so every element has been thought out to his signature perfection. Small details - blackout blinds, plugs, a switch by your bed that turns off all the lights - play as important part in the experience here as the more fun elements such as twin bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and a giant shower with two showerheads.
It's worth waking up for the à la carte breakfast, which is included in the room price. Dine in your accommodation (for an extra charge) or pull up a seat in the restaurant in the main part of the hotel. Highlights include the courgette frittata, pancakes with maple syrup, incredibly crispy bacon, fresh Greek yoghurt with local honey and porridge with honey, pistachios and dried fruit.
There are four restaurants in the hotel: the sea-view Pool Restaurant, Asian-style Nama, The Restaurant, which serves Greek and Mediterranean fare, and the Beach Club. Menus change three times a year depending on seasonal produce. You may have eaten such a big breakfast that you can't find room for lunch (perhaps better for your wallet as well), but if not, we recommend a late lunch at the Beach Club (last order is at 5:30pm) of the courgette spaghetti or the Koilada shrimps with tomato, ouzo and feta cheese. Dinner at The Restaurant looking out at Spetses and the other islands is unbelievable. We loved the catch of the day with incredible fresh-rosemary fries and grilled vegetables topped with a sprinkling of rock salt. The Japanese menu at Nama reads like a love letter to sushi lovers; nigiri and rolls are made from the freshest fish and vegetables.
There is a large indoor-outdoor, state-of-the-art bar, which offers wine tastings if it's raining. Sunset tipples here are a must. Although you may recognise some of your favourite wines on the list, it's worth trying some of the local ones - we particularly liked a minerally white from Santorini.
There are swimming pools galore at Amazoe, from private plunge pools to larger swimming pools in the villas and the enormous main swimming pool. There are three more at the beach club, too. Bookworms will swoon at the library. There's also a beautiful, 2,850sq m spa - if you can think of a treatment, they probably offer it. The Beach Club has many different watersports available, some of which are complimentary such as stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. Don't fancy that? Charter the Amanzoe One boat and visit some of the neighbouring islands. Elsewhere, local activities include beekeeping, mountain biking and hiking.
Amanzoe recycles glass, paper and plastic containers and gives its organic rubbish to a local farmer in order to feed his livestock (mainly pigs). Energy saving is done by way of LED lights and turning off air conditioning, devices and such when not in use. Its plastic takeaway boxes and cups have been scrapped while water is served in glass bottles.
In terms of landscaping, Amanzoe only plants indigenous species with minimal water needs. After conducting elaborate water-management studies, Amanzoe has implemented irrigation with highly treated liquid waste according to strict international regulations. It also has an integrated waste management system and a desalination plant.
Constructed largely from local materials, buildings have been positioned to make the most of the climate and sunlight, while the property has established an eco-friendly microclimate thanks to more than 7,000sq m of planted roofs and the construction of artificial ponds and infinity pools.
Amanzoe is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Athens International Airport, while the Beach Club, which opens at 11am, is a 10-minute drive from the main part of the hotel. Complimentary transfers happen in a snazzy Mercedes-Benz Viano - the hotel has its own fleet of these - so you can go back and forth at any time of day. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also mountain bike to the Beach Club (and back to the resort uphill if you're feeling extremely fit). While the majority of the club is sandy, the shoreline is pebbly so bring some water shoes if you're thinking of swimming. The property closes every year for a period of time over autumn/ winter.
Amanzoe is the kind of resort where you stay on the property, but if you do venture out to more local restaurants and shops, it's about a 10-minute drive from Porto Cheli and 20 to Spetses.
